An ad-hoc secure communication network and methods of communicating with a fleet of vehicles using the ad-hoc communication network is provided. The method includes communicating relatively long range communication signals to a fleet router. The fleet router is a select one of the vehicles in the fleet. The method further includes forming an ad-hoc communication network between the fleet vehicles to communicate relatively short range communication signals between the vehicles in the fleet. Wherein each vehicle in the fleet uses surveillance information to determine the network topology and each vehicle routes messages based on the discovered network topology.

Patent
   8811265
Priority
Oct 19 2007
Filed
Oct 19 2007
Issued
Aug 19 2014
Expiry
Nov 12 2028
Extension
390 days
Assg.orig
Entity
Large
16
172
currently ok
1. A method of communicating with a fleet of vehicles, the method comprising:
designating a single vehicle of a fleet to be a fleet router, the fleet including a plurality of vehicles;
routing long range communication through the fleet router, where all long range communication between individual vehicles within the fleet and any communication point outside of the fleet are routed through the fleet router, wherein none of the individual vehicles within the fleet except for the fleet router communicate directly with any communication point outside of the fleet, wherein the long range communication between the fleet router and any communication point outside of the fleet is detectable by one or more remotely located detecting systems; and
forming an ad-hoc communication network with the plurality of vehicles of the fleet to communicate communication signals between the plurality of vehicles in the fleet, wherein each vehicle in the fleet uses detected surveillance information to determine the network topology and each vehicle routes messages based on the discovered network topology, wherein the communication signals between the plurality of vehicles in the fleet are not detectable by the one or more remotely located detecting systems, and wherein the detected surveillance information is detected by at least one vehicle within the plurality of vehicles and includes at least one of position, ID, speed, heading, and intended trajectory information for the plurality of vehicles.
7. A method of communicating messages for a fleet of vehicles, the method comprising:
designating a single vehicle of a fleet to be a fleet router, the fleet including a plurality of vehicles;
determining a topology of an ad-hoc communication network formed between the plurality of vehicles in the fleet based on surveillance information detected by at least one vehicle within the plurality of vehicles and including at least one of position, ID, speed, heading, and intended trajectory information for the plurality of vehicles;
determining message routing between the plurality of vehicles and the fleet router based on the topology; and
transmitting communication messages between the plurality of vehicles using the determined message routing, wherein communication messages transmitted between the plurality of vehicles in the fleet are not detectable by one or more remotely located detecting systems; and
transmitting all communication messages originating from any vehicle of the plurality of vehicles for transmission to any communication point outside the fleet of vehicles through the fleet router, wherein none of the plurality of vehicles within the fleet except for the fleet router transmit any communication messages directly to any communication point outside of the fleet of vehicles, wherein the communication messages transmitted between the fleet router and any communication points outside of the fleet of vehicles is detectable by one or more remotely located detecting systems.
12. An ad-hoc secure vehicle communication network, the communication network comprising:
a plurality of vehicles, each vehicle including surveillance equipment to generate at least position and ID information regarding the respective vehicle, each vehicle further including a surveillance transmitter configured to transmit the at least position and ID information;
wherein a single vehicle of the plurality of vehicles is designated as a fleet router, wherein the fleet router is configured to communicate using a first communication system and a second communication system, the fleet router including a receiver configured to receive the at least position and ID information transmitted by the vehicles in the plurality of vehicles, the fleet router further comprising a communication management function (CMF) configured to determine an ad-hoc network topology based on the received position and ID information and determine communication routes based on the determined topology, the fleet router further configured to implement the second communication system when communicating based on the determined topology; and
wherein all communications between the plurality of vehicles and at least one communication point outside the plurality of vehicles is routed through the fleet router, wherein communications between the plurality of vehicles is by the first communication system and communications between the fleet router and the at least one communication point outside the plurality of vehicles is by the second communication system, wherein none of the plurality of vehicles except for the fleet router communicate directly with any communication point outside of the plurality of vehicles;
wherein communication between the fleet router and the at least one communication point outside the plurality of vehicles is detectable by one or more remotely located detecting systems; and
wherein communication between the plurality of vehicles is not detectable by the one or more remotely located detecting systems.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
passing messages to one or more vehicles in the fleet from a ground station via the fleet router.
3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
generating surveillance messages with surveillance equipment in each aircraft in the fleet, wherein the surveillance messages provide the surveillance information used to determine the network topology; and
communicating the surveillance messages between the plurality of vehicles using the surveillance equipment, wherein the surveillance equipment is different equipment from communications equipment used to communicate the communication signals.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
encrypting the long range communication signals to the fleet router.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the long range communication signals are at least one of radio and satellite signals.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the short range communication signals are at least one of very high frequency (VHF) signals, high frequency (HF) signals, microwave signals, radio frequency (RF) signals and laser signals.
8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:
receiving all communication messages originating from any point outside the fleet of vehicles for transmission to any vehicle of the plurality of vehicles through the fleet router, wherein none of the plurality of vehicles within the fleet except for the fleet router receive any communication message directly from any communication point outside of the fleet of vehicles.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein determining a topology of an ad-hoc communication network of the vehicles in the fleet based on received surveillance information further comprises:
monitoring surveillance information of vehicles in the fleet using surveillance equipment;
communicating the surveillance information to a central management function (CMF) using surveillance equipment, wherein the surveillance equipment is different equipment from communications equipment used for transmitting communication messages between the plurality of vehicles;
determining the then current topology based on the surveillance information; and
storing the then current topology in a database.
10. The method of claim 7,
wherein determining the topology of the ad-hoc communication network includes communicating the surveillance messages between the plurality of vehicles using surveillance equipment, wherein the surveillance equipment is different equipment from communications equipment used for transmitting communication messages between the plurality of vehicles.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the communication signals transmitted between the fleet router and any communication point outside of the fleet of vehicles are ACARS communication signals and the communication signals transmitted between the plurality of vehicles are at least one of very high frequency (VHF) signals, high frequency (HF) signals, microwave signals, radio frequency (RF) signals and laser signals.
13. The communication network of claim 12, wherein each vehicle in the plurality of vehicles is configured to communicate over long distances with the first communication system and short distances with the second communication system, each vehicle including a receiver configured to receive the at least position and ID information transmitted by other vehicles in the plurality of vehicles, each vehicle further comprising a communication management function (CMF) configured to determine an ad-hoc network topology based on the received position and ID information and determine communication routes based on the determined topology, each vehicle further yet configured to implement the second communication system when communicating based on the determined topology.
14. The communication network of claim 12, further comprising:
a ground station configured to communicate with the first communication system of the fleet router using encrypted messages.
15. The communication network of claim 12, wherein the first communication system is an ACARS communication system and the second communication system is a very high frequency (VHF) communication system.
16. The communication network of claim 12, wherein the surveillance equipment is configured to further generate at least one of speed information, heading information and intended trajectory information; and
wherein the surveillance equipment and the surveillance transmitter are separate from equipment used in the first communication system or the second communication system.

Some aircraft and other military vehicles are designed to keep their detection from their enemy secret. For example, planes are made stealth so they are difficult to pick up by radar. Similarly submarines are made stealth to reduce noises made as they travel through the water. Likewise tanks are colored to match the color of their surroundings. One method used to determine the presence of military vehicles in a fleet is by monitoring communications between command centers and vehicles or between vehicles in the fleet. Even if the communications are encrypted, the number of vehicles in the fleet can be determined based on the number of communication signals to and between the fleet members. Moreover, the discovery of the number of vehicles in a fleet can seriously hamper operations of a mission.

For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for a method to prevent the number of vehicles in a fleet from be detected by communication signals.

The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the invention.

In one embodiment, a method of communicating with a fleet of vehicles is provided. The method includes communicating relatively long range communication signals to a fleet router. The fleet router is a select one of the vehicles in the fleet. The method further includes forming an ad-hoc communication network with the vehicles to communicate relatively short range communication signals between the vehicles in the fleet. Wherein each vehicle in the fleet uses detected surveillance information to determine the network topology and each vehicle routes messages based on the discovered network topology.

The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the detailed description and the following figures in which:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a fleet of vehicles using an ad-hoc communication network of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the communication system of some vehicles that make up the ad-hoc communication network of one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of one method of communicating messages within the fleet of vehicles of one embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of keeping the communications between members of a fleet of vehicles undetectable at a distance. This prevents the practice of communication surveillance in determining the number of vehicles in a fleet. In one embodiment, one of the vehicles is designated as a fleet router. The fleet router maybe in communication with a ground station via secure Aircraft Communication Addressing Reporting System (ACARS). An ACARS typically communicates with relatively long range radio or satellite signals. The fleet router forms an ad-hoc communication network with other vehicles in the fleet. Communication between the vehicles in the ad-hoc network is with the use of relatively short range very high frequency (VHF) communication signals. In embodiments, the ad-hoc communication network is formed using transmitted position and ID information from surveillance equipment on each of the vehicle to discovery the topology of the network. Based on the topology, communication signals are passed to a destination vehicle (node).

Referring to FIG. 1, an illustration of a fleet of vehicles (in this example aircraft) that make an ad-hoc communication network 100 of one embodiment is shown. In this example, relatively strong signals, such as signals used with ACARS, are used to communicate between the fleet router 102 and a ground station 106. However, as also illustrated this relatively strong signal that is in communication between the fleet router 102 and a transceiver 108 of the ground station 106 can be detected by a receiver 112 of a detecting system 110. In embodiments, the communication exchange between the flight router 102 and the ground station 106 are the only communications the detecting system 110 can detect. These ACARS communications are encrypted so the content of the message cannot be determined. However, as stated above, the detecting system will be able to determine that a vehicle (in this case the fleet router 102) is in communication with a ground station 106. In embodiments, relatively short range signals such as VHF communication signals are used to communicate between vehicles in the fleet. An ad-hoc communication network 100 of vehicles (102 and 104-1 through N) are used to pass communication messages between vehicles in the fleet. The vehicles 102 and 104-1 through 104-1 can be generally referred to as communication nodes, or simply nodes 102 and 104-1 through 104-N. Further, in embodiments, network topology is discovered using surveillance signals generated by internal surveillance equipment in each member of the fleet. Hence, communication messages between nodes do not need long headers setting out location information to determine topology. Other short range point to point communication methods besides VHF communication systems are contemplated which include but are not limited to high frequency (HF) communication systems, microwave communication systems, other radio frequency (RF) communication systems as well computer controlled laser communication systems.

In the example of FIG. 1, the ground station 106 needs to send a message to all of the vehicles (nodes) 120 and 104 (1-N) in the fleet. As illustrated, the message is first sent to the fleet router 102 via ACARS communication signal. The fleet router 102 then determines the network topology of the fleet determining the most efficient and reliable route to send the message to the other members of the fleet. In this example, vehicles 104-1, 104-2 and 104-N are in direct communication range of the fleet router 102. Hence the fleet router based on the determined topology sends the communication message to vehicles 104-1, 104-2 and 104-N directly. Further based on the topology, the fleet router 102, directs vehicle (or node) 104-2 to pass the message on to node 104-3 and node 104-4. Once node 104-2 has the message, node 104-2 will determine the then current topology of the fleet. Based on the topology, node 104-2 will determine the most efficient and reliable route. In this example, node 104-3 is in range of node 104-2 and so the message is directly sent to node 104-3. However, node 104-4 is not within its VHF communication range. However, in this example, node 104-2 determined based on the topology that a path through 104-3 was the most efficient and reliable route to node 104-4. Therefore the message to node 104-4 is passed to node 104-3. Node 104-3 will then determine the then current topology as discussed above and the message will be sent based on the most efficient and reliable route. In this example, node 104-4 is in range of node 104-3 and a direct communication path is used. Since communications between members of the node have a relatively short range, the detecting system 110 cannot detect them. Hence the only communication signal detected by the detecting system 110 is the communication between the fleet router 102 and the ground station 106 and therefore the total number of vehicles in the fleet cannot be determined by communication signals.

FIG. 2 illustrates an ad-hoc communication network 200 that communicates between the vehicles (or nodes) using the relatively short range communication signals. The communication network 200 in this example is made up of aircraft 202, 204 and 206. It will be understood that the block diagrams only show portions of the aircraft 202, 204 and 206 that are relevant to the current invention. In this example, the first aircraft 202, the fleet router 202, wants to send a message via the ad-hoc communication network 200. The first aircraft 202 is illustrated has having surveillance equipment 201, a communications management function (CMF) 210, a surveillance transceiver 212, a surveillance antenna 216, a communication transceiver 214, a communication antenna 218, an ACARS 250 and an ASCAR transceiver 252. The ACARS system is used for relatively long communication signals. Other types of communication systems could be used. The surveillance equipment 201 may be a transponder system or the like. The second aircraft 204 is illustrated as having surveillance equipment 203, a CMF 221, surveillance transceiver 220, surveillance antenna 224, communication transceiver 222 and communication antenna 226. Likewise, the third aircraft 206 is illustrated as including surveillance equipment 205, CMF 242, surveillance transceiver 228, surveillance antenna 230, communication transceiver 244 and communication antenna 240. It will be understood that the second and third aircrafts 204 and 206 would also include ACARS systems (not shown) although they would not use them for communication unless they were designated as the fleet router.

The surveillance equipment 201, 203 and 205 is used by the respective aircraft 202, 204 and 206 to periodically broadcast at least their position and ID to other aircraft and ground systems. An example of a type of surveillance equipment 201 is an Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B). The primary purpose of the ADS-B is to create traffic situational awareness for both pilots and air traffic controllers. Another example of surveillance equipment is Traffic Conflict and Advisory Systems (TCAS). A TCAS system provides positional data of an aircraft in response to an interrogation by another aircraft with a TCAS interrogator. Yet another example of a planned surveillance system is an Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Rebroadcast (ADS-R). An ADS-R transmits positional and flight intent data to aircraft from multiple sources of data, originating from an airborne surveillance source, ground based surveillance source or both. Embodiments of the present invention use data from the surveillance equipment for topology discovery.

In the example of FIG. 2, the surveillance equipment 205 of the third aircraft 206 provides information such as its ID and position, its speed, its heading and its intent to the surveillance transmitter 228. Surveillance transmitter 228 sends out a message 230 via surveillance antenna 230 relating to the information. This message is received by the surveillance transceiver 212 via surveillance antenna 216 of the first aircraft 202. Also illustrated, is surveillance equipment 203 in the second aircraft 204 that provides at least position and ID information to its surveillance transceiver 220. Surveillance transceiver 220 transmits message 232 that includes the at least position and ID information to the surveillance transceiver 212 of the first aircraft 202 via surveillance antenna 216. Hence in this example, the first aircraft 202 has location information from both the second and third aircraft 204 and 206. The CMF 210 of the first aircraft takes the location information 234 from the second and third aircraft 204 and 206 and creates a topology of the communication network 200. The CMF 210 uses the discovered topology to determine where to send its communication signal 240. In the example of FIG. 2, the CMF 210 determined the second aircraft 204 provided the best path for its communication signal 240 based on the discovered topology.

The first aircraft 202 uses its communication transceiver 216 to transmit the communication signal 240 to the second aircraft 204 via communication antenna 218. The second aircraft 204 receives the communication signal 240 via its communication antenna 226 and its transceiver 222. The second aircraft 204 will then discover its network topology like the first aircraft 202 did, to determine where next to send the communication signal on its way to its destination. If the surveillance equipment in the aircraft is capable of providing full topology information (e.g. an ADS-B or ADS-R system where ground systems rebroadcast surveillance data), neighboring nodes (aircraft) and the entire network topology are determined using the surveillance data without the need for exchanging hello messages or topology information. This embodiment avoids all overhead associated with neighbor discovery. If the surveillance system(s) is/are only capable of providing neighbor information (e.g. an ADS-B system limited to exchange in surveillance data with other aircraft within communication range), neighbor nodes are determined using the surveillance data and the entire network topology is determined by exchanging topology information over the communication network. This embodiment avoids only the overhead associated with neighbor discovery. Although, this embodiment is less preferred it still provides a significant overhead reduction.

In reference to the surveillance transceivers 212, 220 and 228 and the communication transceivers 214, 222 and 244, the term “transceiver” is meant as a generic term that describes a combination unit with both transmitter and receiver functionality. However, as one skilled in the art would understand, the invention would work equally well if the transceiver function were physically represented in two separate units, one being a transmitter and the other being a receiver. Hence the present invention is not limited to transceivers.

FIG. 3 illustrates a communication flow diagram 300 according to one embodiment. In this example of an embodiment, an encrypted message is sent to the fleet router (301). In one embodiment this is an ACARS communication signal (i.e. a radio or satellite signal). In other embodiments, other types of relatively long range signals that are encrypted are used to communicate signals to the fleet router. Once the message reaches the fleet router, the fleet router determines if the message is to be passed on to one or more of the nodes (302). If the message is not intended to be passed on (302), the process ends. However, if it is determined if the message is to be passed on (302), it is determined if the destination node (or nodes) are within range (303). If the destination node (or nodes) is within communication range, the message is sent to the destination node and the process ends (305). However, if the destination node (or nodes) is not within the communication range, an ad-hoc communication network is used to deliver the message. The ad-hoc communication network takes advantage of the continuous transmission of surveillance information by aircraft or other sources. As illustrated, in FIG. 3, each node monitors surveillance information of the fleet (304). The surveillance information is communicated to the CMF of the respective node (306). The current topology of the communication network is determined by the CMF based on the surveillance information (308). Then the current topology is stored in a database (309). This monitoring and storing, as illustrated, is continuously looped through at a select frequency rate by each member of the fleet. As further illustrated in the communication flow diagram 300 of FIG. 3, when the ad-hoc communication network is needed to deliver a message, the CMF of the node sending the message determines the most efficient and reliable route in the communication network based on the then current stored topology (310). The reliability and longevity of the network route for future message traffic to the same ground destination can be improved further by taking the intended trajectory of the other aircraft into account. This can be accomplished by using position data, aircraft intent data, and properties of the communication link, to predict when existing links will break, when new links will become available, and estimating aircraft-to-aircraft link reliability based on aircraft proximity. Once the most efficient and most reliable route is determined (310), the communication message is transmitted to the next selected node (312). Once, the communication message is received at the next node (314), the next node determines if it is within communication range of the destination node (301). The process continues until the message is received by the destination node (303).

The methods and techniques used by the CMF in each vehicle as described above in discovering the topology can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or with a programmable processor (for example, a special-purpose processor or a general-purpose processor such as a computer) firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Apparatus embodying these techniques may include appropriate input and output devices, a programmable processor, and a storage medium tangibly embodying program instructions for execution by the programmable processor. A process embodying these techniques may be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform desired functions by operating on input data and generating appropriate output. The techniques may advantageously be implemented in one or more programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and DVD disks. Any of the foregoing may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, specially-designed application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs).

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Horvath, John M.

Patent Priority Assignee Title
10102759, Sep 25 2015 Honeywell International Inc Systems and methods for collecting weather information for selected airspace regions
10205502, Oct 01 2012 MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD Aircraft-antenna controlling device, aircraft, aircraft-antenna selecting program, and aircraft-antenna controlling method
10257278, Jan 27 2016 Honeywell International Inc.; Honeywell International Inc Vehicle defined source transmitter
10430073, Jul 17 2015 Crown Equipment Corporation Processing device having a graphical user interface for industrial vehicle
10728341, Jan 27 2016 Honeywell International Inc. Vehicle defined source transmitter
10754466, Nov 22 2016 Crown Equipment Corporation User interface device for industrial vehicle
10796588, Sep 25 2015 Honeywell International Inc. Systems and methods for collecting weather information for selected airspace regions
10936183, Nov 22 2016 Crown Equipment Corporation User interface device for industrial vehicle
10949083, Jul 17 2015 Crown Equipment Corporation Processing device having a graphical user interface for industrial vehicle
11054980, Nov 22 2016 Crown Equipment Corporation User interface device for industrial vehicle
11899871, Jul 17 2015 Crown Equipment Corporation Processing device having a graphical user interface for industrial vehicle
8909158, Oct 22 2009 Pilatus Flugzeugwerke AG Aircraft communication system
9264126, Oct 19 2007 Honeywell International Inc. Method to establish and maintain an aircraft ad-hoc communication network
9467221, Feb 04 2008 Honeywell International Inc. Use of alternate communication networks to complement an ad-hoc mobile node to mobile node communication network
9607523, Aug 24 2015 Honeywell International Inc. Systems and methods for weather information management
9949201, Sep 25 2015 Honeywell International Inc Systems and methods for regulating weather information collection
Patent Priority Assignee Title
4414661, Jul 02 1981 Trancom AB Apparatus for communicating with a fleet of vehicles
4901307, Oct 17 1986 QUALCOMM INCORPORATED A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE Spread spectrum multiple access communication system using satellite or terrestrial repeaters
5095480, Jun 16 1989 FENNER INVESTMENTS, LTD Message routing system for shared communication media networks
5530909, Apr 02 1993 Sextant Avionique Method for Radio transmitting information using aircrafts as open transmission relays
5710764, May 26 1995 NEC Corporation Method of signal transmission in a mobile communication system
5835059, Sep 01 1995 Lockheed Martin Corporation Data link and method
6018659, Oct 17 1996 The Boeing Company Airborne broadband communication network
6047165, Nov 14 1995 Harris Corporation Wireless, frequency-agile spread spectrum ground link-based aircraft data communication system
6064335, Jul 21 1997 Trimble Navigation Limited GPS based augmented reality collision avoidance system
6084870, Jul 22 1996 Omnitracs, LLC Method and apparatus for the remote monitoring and configuration of electronic control systems
6104712, Feb 22 1999 ROBERT, BRUNO G Wireless communication network including plural migratory access nodes
6108539, Mar 06 1992 GOGO LLC Non-terrestrial cellular mobile telecommunication station
6147980, Nov 28 1997 GENERAL DYNAMICS C4 SYSTEMS, INC Avionics satellite based data message routing and delivery system
6148179, Jun 25 1999 Harris Corporation Wireless spread spectrum ground link-based aircraft data communication system for engine event reporting
6154636, May 14 1999 Harris Corporation System and method of providing OOOI times of an aircraft
6160998, Jun 25 1999 Harris Corporation Wireless spread spectrum ground link-based aircraft data communication system with approach data messaging download
6163681, Jun 25 1999 Harris Corporation Wireless spread spectrum ground link-based aircraft data communication system with variable data rate
6173230, Apr 10 1997 Airbus Operations SAS Data link system between an aircraft and the ground and procedure for recovering from a failure
6181990, Jul 30 1998 TELEDYNE CONTROLS, LLC Aircraft flight data acquisition and transmission system
6195189, Oct 24 1997 FUJIFILM Corporation Light beam scanning system
6259379, Jul 29 1996 AlliedSignal Inc. Air-ground logic system and method for rotary wing aircraft
6262659, Mar 03 1998 General Electric Company Telemetry of diagnostic messages from a mobile asset to a remote station
6271768, Dec 30 1998 Honeywell INC Vertical speed indicator/traffic resolution advisory display for TCAS
6285878, Jun 12 1998 AIRBORNE WIRELESS NETWORK Broadband wireless communication systems provided by commercial airlines
6308044, May 14 1999 Harris Corporation System and method of providing OOOI times of an aircraft
6353779, Dec 18 1998 Thomson-CSF Sextant Method for managing communication modes for an aircraft
6438468, Nov 28 2000 Honeywell International Inc Systems and methods for delivering data updates to an aircraft
6477152, Dec 30 1998 Honeywell, Inc Apparatus and method for data communications
6606055, Dec 06 2000 Harris Corporation Phased array communication system providing airborne crosslink and satellite communication receive capability
6643274, Aug 31 2001 The Boeing Company Routing IP packets to an aircraft
6677888, Aug 09 2001 Honeywell International, Inc. Secure aircraft communications addressing and reporting system (ACARS)
6744396, Jul 20 2001 L-3 Communications Corporation Surveillance and collision avoidance system with compound symbols
6778825, May 08 2001 The Boeing Company Path discovery method for return link communications between a mobile platform and a base station
6781513, Mar 03 1998 General Electric Company Telemetry of diagnostic messages from a mobile asset to a remote station
6788935, Mar 06 1992 GOGO LLC Aircraft-based network for wireless subscriber stations
6795408, Dec 30 1998 Honeywell International Inc; HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC , A CORP OF DE Networking system for mobile data communications
6810527, Sep 27 1999 NEWS AMERICA, INCORPORATED, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE System and method for distribution and delivery of media context and other data to aircraft passengers
6816728, Apr 24 2002 TELEDYNE CONTROLS, LLC Aircraft data communication system and method
6819670, Jun 16 1989 FENNER INVESTMENTS, LTD Data packet routing for mobile networks
6915189, Oct 17 2002 TELEDYNE CONTROLS, LLC Aircraft avionics maintenance diagnostics data download transmission system
6925088, Nov 12 1999 Airbus Operations GmbH Data transmission system for aircraft
6931248, Oct 03 2000 Thales Method for selecting a ground station within an aeronautical telecommunications network
6940832, Jan 17 2003 RESEARCH FOUNDATION OF THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, THE Routing method for mobile infrastructureless network
6965816, Oct 01 2001 Kline & Walker, LLC PFN/TRAC system FAA upgrades for accountable remote and robotics control to stop the unauthorized use of aircraft and to improve equipment management and public safety in transportation
6970444, May 13 2002 ARRIS ENTERPRISES LLC System and method for self propagating information in ad-hoc peer-to-peer networks
6990319, Nov 14 1995 Harris Corporation Wireless, ground link-based aircraft data communication method
7027812, Jul 05 2000 Honeywell International Inc Channel selection in aircraft communications system by determining zone load and selecting alternate carrier
7072977, Apr 10 2001 DRS ADVANCED ISR, LLC Method and apparatus for creating links to extend a network
7085290, Sep 09 2003 STINGRAY IP SOLUTIONS LLC Mobile ad hoc network (MANET) providing connectivity enhancement features and related methods
7085562, May 22 2000 Honeywell International Inc Method, apparatus and computer program product for implementing and organizing an AD-HOC aviation data communication network
7116266, Jun 16 2004 Rockwell Collins, Inc. Traffic alert and collision avoidance system enhanced surveillance system and method
7177295, Mar 08 2002 Scientific Research Corporation Wireless routing protocol for ad-hoc networks
7177939, May 14 1999 AT&T MOBILITY II LLC Aircraft data communications services for users
7181160, Sep 17 1997 Aerosat Corporation Method and apparatus for providing a signal to passengers of a passenger vehicle
7187927, Jun 13 2005 Rockwell Collins, Inc.; Rockwell Collins, Inc Global cell phone system and method for aircraft
7343157, Jun 13 2005 BURRANA, INC ; Burrana IP and Assets, LLC Cell phone audio/video in-flight entertainment system
7398050, Jun 14 2004 Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company Method and apparatus for processing air-borne digital data received in a motor vehicle
7454203, Sep 29 2005 NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, INC System and method for providing wireless services to aircraft passengers
7463890, Jul 24 2002 Gula Consulting Limited Liability Company Method and apparatus for establishing ad hoc communications pathways between source and destination nodes in a communications network
7519014, Dec 16 2005 The Boeing Company Multi-network aircraft communication systems and methods
7522628, Nov 17 2003 Raytheon BBN Technologies Corp Systems and methods for implementing coordinated optical channel access
7599314, Dec 14 2007 NANT HOLDINGS IP, LLC Surface-space managed network fabric
7633873, Mar 15 2000 Xylon LLC Method and system for communication of data via an optimum data path in a network
7643426, Apr 27 2006 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP Path selection in a network
7729263, Aug 08 2007 Honeywell International Inc. Aircraft data link network routing
7751815, Mar 06 1992 GOGO LLC System for integrating an airborne wireless cellular network with terrestrial wireless cellular networks and the public switched telephone network
7756508, Aug 25 1999 Molex Incorporated Communication between a fixed network and a movable network with means for suspending operation of the moveable network
7769028, Jun 21 2006 VISION SPHERE LABS LLC Systems and methods for adaptive throughput management for event-driven message-based data
7814322, May 03 2005 SRI INTERNATIONAL, A CALIFORNIA NONPROFIT, PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION Discovery and authentication scheme for wireless mesh networks
7848278, Oct 23 2006 TOYOTA INFOTECHNOLOGY CENTER, U S A , INC Roadside network unit and method of organizing, managing and maintaining local network using local peer groups as network groups
7876736, Sep 08 2000 2BCOM, LLC Communication system with mobile terminal accessible to mobile communication network and local network simultaneously
7894475, Aug 26 1999 IPR Licensing, Inc. Two tier hi-speed wireless communication link
7907893, Aug 02 2000 CORTLAND CAPITAL MARKET SERVICES LLC Integrated or autonomous system and method of satellite-terrestrial frequency reuse using signal attenuation and/or blockage, dynamic assignment of frequencies and/or hysteresis
7924761, Sep 28 2006 Rockwell Collins, Inc Method and apparatus for multihop network FEC encoding
7940669, Jun 15 2007 ITRON NETWORKED SOLUTIONS, INC Route and link evaluation in wireless mesh communications networks
8023936, Apr 19 2004 The Boeing Company Method and system for monitoring ad-hoc network nodes
8190147, Jun 20 2008 Honeywell International Inc. Internetworking air-to-air network and wireless network
8284674, Aug 08 2007 Honeywell International Inc. Aircraft data link network routing
8570990, Dec 04 2007 Honeywell International Inc. Travel characteristics-based ad-hoc communication network algorithm selection
20020009993,
20020168971,
20020191573,
20030003872,
20030030581,
20030053424,
20030071743,
20030072252,
20030073406,
20030158963,
20030231574,
20030231584,
20040008253,
20040028003,
20040132495,
20040157557,
20040235469,
20050026609,
20050053026,
20050054346,
20050064895,
20050090201,
20050108374,
20050143013,
20050174950,
20050197748,
20050220055,
20050221814,
20050221818,
20050232185,
20050234788,
20050281270,
20050286452,
20060023677,
20060031394,
20060080451,
20060098608,
20060167618,
20060176842,
20060178141,
20060183474,
20060205345,
20070042773,
20070042774,
20070072590,
20070150939,
20070183435,
20070200761,
20070213009,
20070284474,
20070286097,
20070297416,
20080095134,
20080117858,
20080144617,
20080150784,
20080151811,
20080186897,
20080186907,
20080205283,
20080240038,
20080240062,
20080274734,
20080291843,
20090005041,
20090041041,
20090058682,
20090077626,
20090092074,
20090103452,
20090103473,
20090141669,
20090197595,
20090318137,
20090318138,
20100057899,
20100157905,
20100272012,
EP1793512,
EP1850543,
EP1926234,
EP2051406,
EP2051407,
EP2068592,
EP967815,
WO3053013,
WO2005069545,
WO2007022353,
WO2007043827,
WO2007054410,
WO2007059560,
WO2008007861,
WO2007059560,
//
Executed onAssignorAssigneeConveyanceFrameReelDoc
Oct 19 2007Honeywell International Inc.(assignment on the face of the patent)
Oct 19 2007HORVATH, JOHN M Honeywell International IncASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS 0199890218 pdf
Date Maintenance Fee Events
Feb 12 2018M1551: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 4th Year, Large Entity.
Feb 08 2022M1552: Payment of Maintenance Fee, 8th Year, Large Entity.


Date Maintenance Schedule
Aug 19 20174 years fee payment window open
Feb 19 20186 months grace period start (w surcharge)
Aug 19 2018patent expiry (for year 4)
Aug 19 20202 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 4)
Aug 19 20218 years fee payment window open
Feb 19 20226 months grace period start (w surcharge)
Aug 19 2022patent expiry (for year 8)
Aug 19 20242 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 8)
Aug 19 202512 years fee payment window open
Feb 19 20266 months grace period start (w surcharge)
Aug 19 2026patent expiry (for year 12)
Aug 19 20282 years to revive unintentionally abandoned end. (for year 12)